Research funded by N8 PRP makes recommendations for improving the experience of autistic people during arrest and custody.

Understanding autistic experiences in custody

The N8 Policing Research Partnership has published a new report exploring how police custody can become safer, more responsive and more inclusive for autistic people. The report, Illuminating the experiences of autistic people during custody: Assessing needs and vulnerabilities and evaluating support structures, was launched following a webinar held on 12 June 2026, which brought together 34 attendees from policing, academia, health services and national governance organisations.

Authored by Dr Laura Naegler and Professor Gabe Mythen from the University of Liverpool, the report presents findings from an N8 PRP Police Priority Grant project. Drawing on qualitative interviews with police officers, custody staff and practitioners supporting autistic people, the study explores the risks, challenges and support needs experienced by autistic individuals during arrest and custody, as well as opportunities to improve police practice.

Key findings from the research

Dr Naegler outlined how custody environments can intensify distress for autistic detainees. Sensory sensitivities relating to noise, light, touch, food and unfamiliar surroundings may be heightened in busy, restrictive and unpredictable custody settings. Participants in the research also highlighted how differences in communication, verbal processing and executive functioning can lead to misunderstanding, particularly when legal information is delivered quickly or verbally, or when literal interpretation and delayed responses are misread as evasiveness or non-compliance.

A key theme was the risk that autistic stress responses, including meltdowns, shutdowns or withdrawal, may be misinterpreted by police or custody staff as resistance, volatility or aggression. This can contribute to escalation, use of force and traumatic experiences for detainees. The research also identified challenges around disclosure and detection. Some autistic people may not disclose a diagnosis because of stigma, mistrust or fears that their agency will be reduced, while others may be undiagnosed or may mask autistic traits. Limited understanding of the diversity of autistic experience, including how autism may present differently in women and girls, can therefore affect access to appropriate support.

Support, communication and custody environments

The presentation emphasised that effective support depends not only on formal processes, but also on compassion, knowledge and the ability to respond to individual needs. Examples from the research showed how empathetic communication, appropriate adults, calming spaces and opportunities for distraction can help reduce distress. However, institutional pressures, including staffing levels, time constraints and the design of custody suites, can limit the ability of staff to provide tailored support.

Recommendations for practice

Recommendations from the study included providing clearer information in accessible formats, allowing sufficient time during booking-in and risk assessment, avoiding deficit-based language, strengthening the availability of appropriate adults with autism-specific knowledge, and embedding lived-experience-led training. Dr Naegler also argued for a broader shift from neurotypical-centred custody practice towards neurodiversity-inclusive approaches, where reasonable adjustments are considered standard rather than exceptional.

Reflections from participants

The discussion that followed brought together valuable perspectives from researchers, practitioners, trainers and people with lived experience. Attendees reflected on the need for greater consistency across police forces, more role-specific training for custody staff and suspect interviewers, and better support before people reach custody. Several contributors highlighted the wider systems issue: when health, social care or education services are unable to respond effectively, police may become the default service for autistic people in crisis, creating a pathway into criminal justice that may be avoidable.

Next steps

The publication of the report provides a timely resource for police practitioners, researchers, trainers, advocacy organisations and others working to improve support for neurodivergent people in contact with the criminal justice system. The webinar underlined the importance of collaboration between academics, police practitioners, advocacy organisations and people with lived experience, and highlighted emerging practice including neurodivergence-informed custody spaces, lower lighting, clocks and calming design features. The full report, slides and event materials are available on the project page on the N8 PRP website.

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